TV aerial help needed!

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Cambo

104 posts

Master Geek

#113377 15-Jan-2013 13:18

Hi all,

Just moved into a ~100 yr old house in Christchurch, and having trouble connecting my TV to the antenna (for vanilla TV - not yet Freeview).

I have a Samsung 37 inch flatscreen, about 4 years old.

The cable coming out of the wall is like this:
http://www.computercables.co.nz/content/media/images/products/ftvftv.jpg

The connector at the back of the TV is like any regular aerial socket.
I went to 'tricky dickie', had to make multiple trips for the correct cable with a bunch of different adaptors.
The cable I now have connects from the wall to the TV, but still no signal - not even snowy reception, the TV is blank black screen even when cycling through TV/AV/DVI functions.

We have a 'bunny ears' aerial which we are using, but it is a pain having to adjust it for different channels.

Even though the sockets plug in, is it possible that the cable I purchased is not the correct type?
There is a twin-cabled connection in the same corner for the Sky satellite.
I am not totally deficient when it comes to electronics - I have set up internet this week, got AV & sound cables for the laptop to the TV, and I build my own PCs.
Having moved into the place in just a weeks notice, I am not exactly swimming in funds to pay someone to have a look.

Any ideas?

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353 posts

Ultimate Geek

#745114 15-Jan-2013 14:26

The cable from the wall looks like it is a "F" connector type, normally used in conjunction with satellite dishes. My guess is that it is connected to a SKY satellite dish and NOT to the house TV antenna. Hence, it will never work if connected directly to the TV! Check the cable feed from the TV antenna is in fact wired to that cable - my guess is that it is not - indeed, you may not actually have a TV antenna installed on the house.

Sharesies kids

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B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#745115 15-Jan-2013 14:27

OK
The two cables in the picture have f plugs which are normally plugged into a Sky Box or satellite decoder on one end and attached to a Satellite Dish at the other. If that is the case you wont get any picture on any TV by connecting to the TV.
Firstly, what sort of antenna is on the roof?
If it is VHF or VHF/UHF there should be a wall socket or plug at the other end of the co-ax that can be connected directly to the TV.
To get analogue in CH you need a VHF antenna and coax to the set. Check your cabling at each end. You may also have UHF for Prime.
After 28 April there will be no analogue so you will then need a UHF antenna plus STB or new TV or Sky to watch anything.
Bear in mind that Freeview UHF is HD and satellite is inferior SD. MySkyHDi with HD ticket (expensive) is the only satellite option for HD.

Cambo

104 posts

Master Geek

#745126 15-Jan-2013 14:38

Ok, so I effectively have 3 x 'F' plugs in the same corner of the room.

The 'twin' cable (grey coloured) has two F cables stuck together, when I moved in one had a brass (?) adaptor on the end. Removing the adaptor reveals the same 'double male' F plug.
I did assume this was for the Sky dish, so I left it alone.

About 2ft to the left of the sky cable is the lonesome single black F cable. It has the small, solid pin in the centre (same as the grey Sky cable). This is the cable that I thought would be to the antenna, and this is the cable which I have concentrated my efforts.

I did only assume that we have an antenna, and that it is connected.
When I get home, I will scout for an antenna - and there is also another F cable on the opposite corner of the room. I'll drag everything over there and do some testing. FWIW, there is also another F cable in the master bedroom.

Skolink

1081 posts

Uber Geek

#745163 15-Jan-2013 15:33

I would guess that the single F-Type connector in your lounge goes to the bedroom. It would have been connected to the loop-through RF output from the Sky decoder, for a second decoder or TV in the bedroom. Our house had this when we moved in (but not for long...).

I would also guess that your satellite dish has dual LNBs, hence the double cable / double F-type on the other wall-plate.

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#745169 15-Jan-2013 15:45

Skolink: I would guess that the single F-Type connector in your lounge goes to the bedroom. It would have been connected to the loop-through RF output from the Sky decoder, for a second decoder or TV in the bedroom. Our house had this when we moved in (but not for long...).

I would also guess that your satellite dish has dual LNBs, hence the double cable / double F-type on the other wall-plate.

+1
That sounds like pretty logical thinking.
Being all f plugs would indicate all are for satellite connections and there's no analogue co-ax.
Previous owner/tenant probably had Sky only.

Cambo

104 posts

Master Geek

#745177 15-Jan-2013 15:53

That makes sense Skolink.

Landlady coming around tonight, will discuss options with her.
We were looking at getting a freeview box in the next few weeks, or maybe even just basic Sky.
Had big Sky package at our last place; it's like paying for a whole pizza and eating two slices only :O

Edit: Can you explain LNBs? The house is essentially a large villa split in half - two flats, one Sky dish.

Hiamie

353 posts

Ultimate Geek

#745233 15-Jan-2013 17:31

LNB is the "Low Noise Block" downconverter, and is part of the satellite dish (the center bit that receives the signal from the satellite).

Goosey

2346 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#745262 15-Jan-2013 18:39

Hi, so did you locate the type of aerial on the roof or can you only see just a satelite dish?

To pre empt your questions...

Freeview via UHF aerial is far better in quality than the Satelite Freeview option, however there is a range of benefits for both methods and thats up to you to decide.

Skolink

1081 posts

Uber Geek

#745431 16-Jan-2013 06:51

I would also recommend using the Freeview UHF tuner built into your TV (once the land lord has installed an aerial) rather than a Freeview satellite box.

I, and two people who live near me (Spreydon), have had Freeview UHF reception problems since mid October. I mostly solveed the problem by removing the VHF elements from our aerial, and the others by fitting a VHF blocking (UHF passthrough) filter.
Anyway what I'm saying is get an aerial with only the short straight elements (and plenty of them).
i have a complaint open with Radio Spectrum Management.

Goosey

2346 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#745443 16-Jan-2013 07:45

Skolink: I would also recommend using the Freeview UHF tuner built into your TV (once the land lord has installed an aerial) rather than a Freeview satellite box.

I, and two people who live near me (Spreydon), have had Freeview UHF reception problems since mid October. I mostly solveed the problem by removing the VHF elements from our aerial, and the others by fitting a VHF blocking (UHF passthrough) filter.
Anyway what I'm saying is get an aerial with only the short straight elements (and plenty of them).
i have a complaint open with Radio Spectrum Management.

Slightly off topic, however this is interesting. How old was your combo aerial? Can you see the 'loaf' and what kinda polarisation were you using. Also any rouge neibours that could be causing signal loss? (industrial, ham radio, etc etc)

Cambo

104 posts

Master Geek

#745458 16-Jan-2013 08:11

Confirmed that we have no antenna, just two Sky dishes for the building (one per flat).
I thought that most houses should be wired for terrestrial, and the landlady had not mentioned satellite-only wiring at all - so I am kind of annoyed. Had FV not been around, it would have caused unneccesary cost just to get decent TV.
At my girlfriends request I did not discuss this with the landlady last night.
I don't think my TV has an in-built tuner, but I will need to do a Google check on that one.

Checking the FV webpage, I am likely to get FV HD with a satellite, so will need a FV satellite receiver.

nickb800

2699 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#745466 16-Jan-2013 08:32

Cambo: Confirmed that we have no antenna, just two Sky dishes for the building (one per flat).
I thought that most houses should be wired for terrestrial, and the landlady had not mentioned satellite-only wiring at all - so I am kind of annoyed. Had FV not been around, it would have caused unneccesary cost just to get decent TV.
At my girlfriends request I did not discuss this with the landlady last night.
I don't think my TV has an in-built tuner, but I will need to do a Google check on that one.

Checking the FV webpage, I am likely to get FV HD with a satellite, so will need a FV satellite receiver.

Might want to check the FV webpage again, you cannot ever get FV HD with a satellite, you can only get FV HD with an antenna (or a pay tv subscription).

What suburb are you in?

B1GGLZ

1961 posts

Uber Geek

#745474 16-Jan-2013 08:54

Checking the FV webpage, I am likely to get FV HD with a satellite, so will need a FV satellite receiver.

You can't get HD via satellite except with MySkyHDi.
If you are in anywhere in CHCH you surely must be able to get Freeview UHF? Like it's rather flat and the transmitter is on the hills.
You are likely to get Freeview via satellite anywhere in NZ.

Skolink

1081 posts

Uber Geek

#745507 16-Jan-2013 09:43

We have a 'bunny ears' aerial which we are using, but it is a pain having to adjust it for different channels.

I don't think my TV has an in-built tuner, but I will need to do a Google check on that one.

You must know, since you have been tuning in with bunny ears. Does it show DTV as well as ATV options / tuning in the menus? Can you receive any DTV channels with bunny ears? My workmate can, and he lives way out in Loburn (but with clear LoS to Sugerloaf).

I have started a new topic on my reception issues.

Cambo

104 posts

Master Geek

#745508 16-Jan-2013 09:43

Ah yes, my mistake.

I'm in Waltham, so just a satellite receiver should be what I need (for FV satellite).

Thanks for the help, I have gained much knowledge!

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